Boat fishing
Fishing from a Boat
Boat fishing opens up a whole new side of the coast, reaching marks and depths you simply cannot fish from the shore. It works best when everyone keeps things calm, tidy and safe, and when you learn to work with the drift and depth rather than casting. With the right rod, a simple rig and a string of feathers, beginners can land mackerel, bream, ray and more in a single trip. This guide covers the gear, the technique and the etiquette to help you enjoy a great day afloat.
At a glance
Let line down to the fish rather than casting out, matching your lead to the depth and drift so your bait or lure fishes naturally near the bottom or in midwater.
- Best for
- Anglers heading out on a charter or small boat for deeper-water species like pollack, cod, bream and ray that are hard to reach from shore.
- How it fishes
- Depth-led and drift-led: you fish below the boat rather than casting, working with the skipper's knowledge of the ground.
- Tackle
- A boat rod and reel loaded with braid, plus feathers, jigs, pirks or running ledger rigs chosen to suit the depth and the species you're after.
- Bait & rigs
- Mackerel and squid strip, whole sandeel and shellfish work on the bottom, while feathers and lures take pollack, cod and mackerel through the water.
- Safety
- Listen to the skipper, wear the lifejacket provided, keep the deck tidy, and let the crew know if you start to feel unwell in a swell.
- Good to know
- You don't need your own boat or fancy gear — a friendly charter skipper will set you up and put you over the fish.
A morning out of a Cornish harbour with a good skipper is one of the easiest ways to land fish you'd struggle to reach from the shore.
Stay safe: Listen to the skipper, wear the lifejacket provided, keep the deck tidy, and let the crew know if you start to feel unwell in a swell.
